Newhouse addresses priorities if reelected

MOSES LAKE – As the 2024 election season heats up, Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse is seeking to secure another term in the House of Representatives, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by Central Washington residents. Newhouse outlined his top priorities and the motivations behind his campaign. 

Newhouse is running against Republican Jerrod Sessler. An article on Sessler's policies and campaign ran in the Friday issue of the Columbia Basin Herald.

In the first 30 days of a new term, Newhouse said his primary focus will be securing the border and addressing the high cost of energy, which he believes are critical issues impacting both producers and consumers in his district. 

“I've been working on improving many of the policies related to the agricultural industry, the challenges that we face by addressing high cost of energy that will have an impact on high cost of inputs for producers, also consumers, as they face higher costs at the grocery stores and gas stations," Newhouse said. 

Newhouse has also expressed a commitment to improving agricultural labor policies, which he identified as essential for the agricultural industry's success locally and nationally. 

“I feel like having a legal workforce for the agricultural industry and for many other industries in this country is vitally important,” Newhouse said. “Couple that with securing the border, so that we know who's coming into this country and why, providing people with a legal way to come to the country, to work with those immigrants for many of our industries and then also a legal way to go home when that work is done. I think it's critical for not only our economy.” 

The Congressman currently serves on the Select Committee on China, where he has focused on tackling the fentanyl crisis, an issue he believes is critical to the safety and health of his constituents.  

“Ninety-seven percent of fentanyl in the world comes from China,” Newhouse said. “We have to increase the tools that our Border Patrol and law enforcement have to stop the flow of drugs across our borders.”  

Newhouse labeled a three-part plan. First, the U.S. needs to secure the border and increase border control to limit the drug from entering America.  

“We can't forget the people that are getting poisoned by this drug,” Newhouse said. “We need rehabilitation resources. Increase the services that are provided to people to keep them off the drug. Get them off, get them back to productive lives.” 

The third part is prevention. Newhouse said it is critical that young people don’t fall into the use of illicit substances.  

The Congressman is optimistic about passing legislation aimed at restricting companies involved in the fentanyl trade and improving enforcement at the U.S. borders, stating that this remains a top priority. 

Reflecting on his decision to run for reelection, Newhouse said that his lifelong ties to Central Washington motivate him to continue advocating for policies supporting local industries and communities.  

“I stand out as the most qualified, most able to stand up for those things that are important for Central Washington, because I'm a product of this area,” Newhouse said. “I was born here. I've lived here my entire life. My family is here. My farm is now a fourth generation, and my business is here, through that farm. This is very personal for me, the things that I've been working on behalf of the people I represent, and I truly think that's a huge difference between me and my opponent.” 

In seeking to enhance job growth and economic development, Newhouse highlighted the influx of businesses into the region, particularly in areas like Moses Lake and the Tri-Cities.  

“We have to provide educational opportunities, make sure that we have a trained workforce, that these companies and future companies are looking for and so that people can truly realize their greatest opportunity for improving their way of life,” Newhouse said. “I'm very, very optimistic about our future.” 

Newhouse is also aware of the struggles faced by rural health care providers, acknowledging that access to quality care is a significant challenge. He has advocated for policies that improve Medicare reimbursements and increased funding for residency programs in rural areas to attract physicians.  

“There's a lot of things that we're looking at and trying to do to increase the ease of attracting professionals into rural areas,” Newhouse said. “I'm really happy to see the success of the medical school in Yakima. That was one of its main missions when it was started, was to train doctors in rural areas and allow them to do their residency work in rural areas, so that they will decide to remain in rural Washington, and that's happening.” 

Another pressing issue for Newhouse is the ongoing debate surrounding immigration reform. He argues that securing the border is essential while still allowing for legal immigration.  

“We need physical barriers in order to allow the Border Patrol to better set where people came across,” Newhouse said. “I think that that's a big part of that. I don't think border control and treating people humanely are mutually exclusive. We should be able to allow both. But what we've seen over the last couple of years is an overwhelming number and the resources have not been there to solve that. So that's why we need to be able to control that flow.” 

Newhouse said that policies implemented by the former administration have been predominantly overturned and the new policies implemented are not working. He said that there are also policies regarding immigration that are not being strictly followed.  

“There was almost, this wasn't the case, but it was almost as if there was a neon sign at the border saying we were open,” Newhouse said. “The word was out that all you have to do is come to the border, present yourself as seeking asylum and we have to take some of those laws that were in place before I think need to be reinstituted and frankly, some of the existing laws that we have in place need to be better enforced.” 

Addressing the topic of rising tensions within the political landscape, Newhouse emphasized the importance of bipartisanship.  

“If there's a President Harris or President Trump, I'll work with whoever's there,” Newhouse said. “I think it's my responsibility to do the best I can to represent my district to work with whoever is in office and I've got a long track record of working with everybody that I possibly can. That's the way our system is set up. You can do nothing by yourself.” 

Newhouse said that he can work with anyone, whether Republican or Democrat, and he tries to build relationships with both parties to accomplish his goals.  

“You have to have relationships with people on both sides of the aisle in order to get anything done and so that doesn't mean you compromise your principles and your ideals,” Newhouse said. “It just means that you have to listen to all sides and do the best you can to bring forward solutions to the problems and the challenges that we face. Sonif that means working with President Harris. That's what I'll do. If it means working with President Trump, I'll do the same thing to make sure that to the best of my ability, I get as much done as I possibly can on behalf of the people that represent.” 

When asked if Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Newhouse said yes. 

“It was clear to me, every state submitted their electoral votes,” Newhouse said. “They were counted by the House of Representatives and no governor, no state legislature sent Congress anything to the contrary and so the answer is yes. Joe Biden is the winner of the 2020 presidential election.” 

Newhouse also said that he was in the House Chamber on Jan. 6, 2021, when the protest at the Capital occurred. 

“I was witness to what was happening, but certainly not a participant in any way,” Newhouse said. It was a horrible thing to witness an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power and we need to do everything possible to make sure that never happens again.” 

Regarding LGBTQ+ rights, Newhouse clarified his stance during the interview, expressing support for the Marriage Equality Act, while also voicing concerns about male participation in women’s sports.  

“I believe it’s unfair for trans women to compete in women’s sports if they are physiologically male,” Newhouse said.  

As the election draws closer, Newhouse urges voters to make their voices heard, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement.  

“If you're not at the table, you're on the menu,” Newhouse said. “People need to make sure that the decisions that are being made on these decisions because they're going to have the result of whatever decisions are made. There's a lot of important things on the ballot this year, a lot of offices that people want to fill. There's initiatives and all of those decisions will impact people's lives and it's important for Americans. It's important for people in Central Washington to make sure that their voice is heard, and they encourage everyone to fill out their ballot and get it sent in.”